Dirty Dozen 2018

Yippee! The Dirty Dozen 2018 list put out by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) was just published and at the top of the list are strawberries for the third year in a row.

Needless to say, this is not good news for strawberry lovers (or anyone with a favored fruit or veggie on the Dirty Dozen 2018 list).

What is the Dirty Dozen 2018?

Savvy shoppers want to know what is the Dirty Dozen?

I wrote a detailed blog post — as in last month — about this subject and I don’t favor going into it in depth again. If you are curious, you may find the original post here.

In short, the Dirty Dozen 2018 is the list of fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) which contain the most traces of pesticides and chemicals. Basically, if you can afford it, it would behoove you to buy these items with a certified organic label.

I know that not everyone is in a position to buy all their produce in the organic aisle. Lists such as the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen allow those of us who must budget closely to become more discerning shoppers.

It is strongly suggested that you buy organic versions of the fruits and vegetables listed on the Dirty Dozen list. Those listed on the Clean Fifteen can be bought without the organic certification. I will publish both lists below.

Without further ado, here are the lists.

The Dirty Dozen

These fruits and vegetables should be bought in the organic aisle (if your budget allows).

Strawberries

Spinach

Nectarines

Apples

Grapes

Peaches

Cherries

Pears

Tomatoes

Celery

Potatoes

Sweet Bell Peppers

The Clean Fifteen

These fruits and vegetable can be bought non-organic. The only exceptions are those with an asterix (see note below).

Avocados

Sweet Corn*

Pineapples

Cabbages

Onions

Sweet Peas Frozen

Papayas*

Asparagus

Mangoes

Eggplants

Honeydew Melons

Kiwis

Cantaloupe

Cauliflower

Broccoli

The Complete List

Strawberries

Spinach

Nectarines

Apples

Grapes

Peaches

Cherries

Pears

Tomatoes

Celery

Potatoes

Sweet Bell Peppers

Cherry Tomatoes

Snap Peas Imported

Lettuce

Blueberries

Hot Peppers

Plums

Kale/ Collard Greens

Cucumbers

Green Beans

Tangerines

Raspberries

Grapefruit

Winter Squashes

Carrots

Oranges

Summer Squashes

Snap Peas Domestic

Bananas

Sweet Potatoes

Watermelons

Mushrooms

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Cantaloupes

Kiwis

Honeydew Melons

Eggplants

Mangoes

Asparagus

Papayas*

Sweet Peas Frozen

Onions

Cabbages

Pineapples

Sweet Corn*

Avocados

* A small amount of sweet corn, papaya and summer squash sold in the United States is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified produce.

For further information, consults the EWG website.

Side Note: EWG and Skincare

Even though you may not wear makeup or use skincare items per say — shampoos, conditioners, and deodorants do fall under the skincare category and I suppose you — or someone you know and love — use them.

The EWG has an amazing section on beauty products (facial, body, nail care,lotions, etc) where you can find out how clean your skincare is — or isn’t.

Think about it. If you take into consideration that the skin is the largest organ in your body, I would say this free list can be invaluable. I refer to it quite often as — admittedly — I am a bit of a health nut.